Dudes on sup's are the worst

[StuckinVA]

There is nothing wrong with SUP if you know how to surf and know your surf manners. The problem is generally with beginners on any kind of board at crowded breaks, those who sit inside on big days and are constantly getting cleaned up by the sets so they are in the way and the greedy. I know people who ride a SUP far better than many on conventional boards short or long.

I respectfully disagree. In my experience, SUPers are the ones who don't abide by proper surfing etiquette. When its decent but inconsistent, they sit outside and take the occasional rogue wave and then have enough time to paddle back out and get in front of you again. It has nothing to do with being a "beginner."

As for me, they get one chance to show proper etiquette, if they aren't don't comply, I won't either. The same goes for longboarders.

[WeekendWarriorMdVaNc]

I've got one of those lamo 'big kahuna' land paddlers for my longboard(sk8). It's a real good workout for when it's flat and don't have time to get to the water. I do about 5 miles on average...keeps me in surf shape no doubt.

[live aloha]

My thoughts:

1. Sure, it looks like a great workout on flat days. I haven't tried it, but I probably would if I had the money and a place to store it in my 180 sq ft apartment.

2. It's not "a few" who have tarnished the image. It's MOST. The vast majority of people on these things don't have a clue what they're doing.

3. The ignorant majority ABSOLUTELY pose a physical danger to everyone else in the lineup. I've been hit on the head by a longboard before, and it sucks. I would imagine a blow to the head by some SUP yahoo could put one in hospital and potentially even deal the death blow in rare cases.

4. I think regulating the lineup with laws is complete BS, so I don't really have a proposed solution other than very clear and very firm self-regulation. If you nearly get bonked on the head, don't grumble to yourself and paddle away. Look the guy in the face and tell him that he's being dangerous and could seriously injure someone and should probably get (the f@#%) out of the crowded lineup and go elsewhere until he learns to surf. Sure, you feel like an a-hole, but this works almost all the time. If you're talking about safety, "assertiveness" is sometimes construed as "aggression", but that's not to say it's not appropriate or even necessary.

5. Some people ride these things very well. Good for them. My only problem lies with those who willingly endanger others.

[ginsumagic]

If I see these oil tankers in the water I pay close attention to whose driving um, I'd hate like hell to get hit by one of these. I've been seeing allot of peeps who have no freakin clue of what happens in the break so if I see um teetering I stay the hell away from them.

[dave]

Friends Don't Let Friends Ride SUPs

[callmedaddy]

hey bros I did some suping over the weekend at a crowded ass beach in nags head. I swear i almost killed some old ladies on that thing. I thought that was it, me going to prison for killing someone on a ****ing SUP. I guess thats like taking one for the team.. major kooks in the lineup for sure with little hats and sweatshirts and ****. Way slower than my kayak.

[Ray F.]

Look the guy in the face and tell him that he's being dangerous and could seriously injure someone and should probably get (the f@#%) out of the crowded lineup and go elsewhere until he learns to surf.

While I believe addressing the situation, I don't neccessarily agree that the initial approach should include this level of "assertiveness". I think the bigger part of the problem (that I see) is more gutless passive aggression in the water than anything. More people make indirect comments or talk crap out of earshot of the offender than actually address him. Every once in a great while, I'll see somebody get hostile right away. Personally, I can't help but think that they're scared ****less and have to work themselves up to a froth to confront somebody over something that just requires some self-control and communication skills.

By the way, I've never had a problem with a single sweeper. Never seen one get greedy, drop in or endanger somebody. My fellow shortboarders, on the other hand.....

[ihatelongboarders]

sup's, worst things ever.

[whit]

I love taking my SUP out to San Diego and San Clemente and Oregon. I'll be going to Panama, Costa Rica, the Bahamas and Puerto Rico later this year. And probably end up in Brazil and Hawaii for a while, too. I also spend a lot of time down near Wilmington and some in the Outer Banks and VA Beach. I'm getting into kiteboarding too. Life is great!

[live aloha]

While I believe addressing the situation, I don't neccessarily agree that the initial approach should include this level of "assertiveness". I think the bigger part of the problem (that I see) is more gutless passive aggression in the water than anything. More people make indirect comments or talk crap out of earshot of the offender than actually address him. Every once in a great while, I'll see somebody get hostile right away. Personally, I can't help but think that they're scared ****less and have to work themselves up to a froth to confront somebody over something that just requires some self-control and communication skills.

Right on, Ray. I totally agree. The expletive was intended more for message board humor than anything. It's sort of like the stereotypical chick who holds in all this resentment that her man keeps choosing 6 ft Log Cabins over sex and finally explodes in a fit of rage because she kept it all bottled up all winter and...this is all hypothetical of course. :P